Heavy Duty Trucking

SEP 2014

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its 2015 target.
"Now our sights are set on 10% by
2022," wrote Scott in a post on the
organization's website. "Our industry
track record proves that we are good
at setting responsible goals for bio-
diesel volume growth. While setting
those goals requires some balance
between overreaching and stagnation,
we cannot overreach when it comes to
investing in science."
Looking to a 'greener' biofuel
Some companies are looking to
another potential biofuel feedstock:
algae. About eight years ago, Genifuel
Corp. began playing with the idea to
convert wet organic material (usually
wastes) into biofuels. The process,
known as hydrothermal processing,
can make bio-crude oil, methane
(natural gas), or both together.
"Essentially we do in 30 minutes
what nature does in 30 million years
— apply temperature and pressure to
wet organic matter to make oil and
gas," says James Oyler, president of
Genifuel. "This process solves two
problems at once, in that it cleanly
disposes of wet wastes and produces
renewable fuels. The liquid fuels
come from the bio-crude oil, which
can be refined just like fossil crude oil
to yield a full range of fuels, such as
gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel."
that is derived from waste with little
or no land requirements."
According to Siu, large fleet opera-
tors can play a valuable role by stating a
preference for biofuels that are certified
sustainable by a credible certification
system. By seeking demonstrably sus-
tainable biofuels, it will help insulate
Circle 111 on Reader Action Card
the fleet operator against unintended
environmental outcomes — and offer a
marketable "green" message.
Don Scott, director of sustainabil-
ity for the National Biodiesel Board,
points to the fact that the NBB has
already met its goal of producing 5%
of U.S. diesel fuel volumes ahead of
96 HDT • SEPTEMBER 2014 www.truckinginfo.com
A team of researchers at the U.S.
Department of Energy's Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory has
developed a way to transform a mix-
ture of algae and water into a form of
crude oil in less than an hour.
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF
PACIFIC
NORTHWEST
NATIONAL
LABORATORY
ALTERNATIVE
FUEL